耳 — Kanji Reference
耳 (ear): 6 strokes, JLPT N5. On: ジ. Kun: みみ.
耳
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ear |
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| On-reading (音読み) | ジ |
| Kun-reading (訓読み) | みみ |
| Radical | 耳 (mimi) — U+8033 |
Stroke Order
The kanji 耳 follows the standard rule of top-to-bottom and left-to-right. It is written in 6 strokes:
- Stroke 1: A short horizontal line at the top.
- Stroke 2: A long vertical line on the left.
- Stroke 3: A short horizontal line connecting to the vertical line.
- Stroke 4: A short horizontal line below stroke 3.
- Stroke 5: A long horizontal line at the bottom, closing the box.
- Stroke 6: A long vertical line on the right side.
Radical Analysis
The kanji 耳 is a pictograph (象形文字 - shōkei moji). It was originally designed to resemble the shape of a human ear. Because it is a simple, fundamental shape, it acts as its own radical (the "ear" radical). When used as a component in other kanji, it often relates to hearing, listening, or the physical shape of an ear.
Mnemonic
The "Ear" Shape: Look at the kanji and imagine it is a side profile of a human head. The long vertical line on the left is the back of the head, and the three horizontal lines sticking out to the right are the curves of the outer ear.
Alternative: Imagine the kanji is a pair of glasses (the two vertical lines) with a strap connecting them (the horizontal lines). You need "ears" to hold your glasses up!
On-readings (音読み) with Examples
ジ (ji)
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耳鼻科 | じびか | jibika | Otolaryngology (Ear, nose, and throat) |
| 中耳炎 | ちゅうじえん | chūjien | Otitis media (middle ear infection) |
| 耳鳴り | じなり | jinari | Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) |
Kun-readings (訓読み) with Examples
みみ (mimi)
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耳 | みみ | mimi | Ear |
| 耳元 | みみもと | mimimoto | Close to the ear |
| 耳寄り | みみより | mimiyori | Interesting news / good to hear |
JLPT N5 Words Using 耳
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 耳 | みみ | mimi | Ear | N5 |
| 耳鼻科 | じびか | jibika | ENT clinic | N4 |
| 耳にする | みみにする | mimi ni suru | To hear of / to learn about | N4 |
| 耳を傾ける | みみをかたむける | mimi o katamukeru | To listen attentively | N3 |
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耳が痛いです。 | みみがいたいです。 | Mimi ga itai desu. | My ear hurts. |
| 彼は耳が遠いです。 | かれはみみがとおいです。 | Kare wa mimi ga tōi desu. | He is hard of hearing. |
| 耳鼻科に行きます。 | じびかにいきます。 | Jibika ni ikimasu. | I am going to the ENT clinic. |
| 秘密を耳元で話した。 | ひみつをみみもとではなした。 | Himitsu o mimimoto de hanashita. | I whispered a secret in his ear. |
| その話は耳にタコができる。 | そのはなしはみみにたこができる。 | Sono hanashi wa mimi ni tako ga dekiru. | I've heard that story so many times I'm sick of it. |
| 音楽を耳で聞く。 | おんがくをみみできく。 | Ongaku o mimi de kiku. | I listen to music with my ears. |
Common Confusion Pairs
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | How to distinguish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耳 | みみ | Ear | Has three horizontal lines inside the frame. |
| 目 | め | Eye | Has two horizontal lines inside the frame; looks like an eye. |
| 自 | じ | Self | Looks similar to 目 but has a small dash on top. |
Usage Frequency Note
耳 is a high-frequency kanji used daily in both formal and informal contexts. It is essential for medical discussions (e.g., jibika), daily physical descriptions, and common idioms regarding listening or hearing. It is one of the first body-part kanji taught to beginners.